Israeli PM opposes creation of Palestinian state, vows Hamas disarmament

On November 16, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed his uncompromising stance on the creation of a Palestinian state, pledging that Hamas will be disarmed.

The statement comes amid reports that the United States is considering moving ahead with rebuilding parts of Gaza even as the terror group retains its weapons, Caliber.Az reports per The Times of Israel.

Speaking at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, Netanyahu also reiterated Israel’s “opposition to a Palestinian state anywhere west of the Jordan River.”

On November 17, a UN Security Council vote is expected on a draft resolution to enshrine US President Donald Trump’s comprehensive Gaza plan, which says “the conditions may finally be in place for a credible pathway” to Palestinian statehood once there is peace in Gaza and the Palestinian Authority “faithfully” reforms itself.

Trump’s 20-point plan, which Netanyahu endorsed in a September 29 press conference with the US president, also calls for the disarmament of Hamas, demilitarisation of Gaza, reconstruction of the Strip and handing the enclave over to an International Stabilization Force (ISF) and an apolitical Palestinian administration overseen by a Trump-chaired Board of Peace.

However, an Israeli source cited by Channel 13 said the White House was thinking of ditching the disarmament demand and moving ahead with reconstruction, due to the difficulty in getting other countries to send troops to demilitarise Gaza.

Addressing the “so-called non-demilitarisation” of the Hamas-controlled parts of Gaza, Netanyahu said that “there will be no such thing.”

“In the 20-point plan, and in any other case, this area will be demilitarised and Hamas will be disarmed — either the easy way or the hard way,” he said. “That is what I have said, and that is what President Trump has also said.”

“Our opposition to a Palestinian state anywhere west of the Jordan River exists, is firm, and has not changed whatsoever,” Netanyahu said. “I have been pushing back against these attempts for decades, and I do so against external pressure and internal pressure as well.”

“I don’t need reinforcement, tweets, or lectures from anyone,” added the prime minister.

Earlier on November 16, senior members of Netanyahu’s own Likud party made their own statements rejecting Palestinian statehood and vowing to keep up military operations in Gaza and elsewhere.

By Khagan Isayev